Wärtsilä delivers integrated hybrid solutions for small and medium gas carriers, helping owners achieve efficiency, compliance, and long-term flexibility. Our offering covers LNG, LPG, and multi-gas vessels, with a special focus on LNG bunkering vessels, a fast-growing segment in global shipping.
Whether you operate a regional LNG carrier, LNG bunkering vessel, or a multi-purpose gas transporter, Wärtsilä helps you cut operating costs, reduce emissions, and prepare for future fuels. Our modular approach combines the following into one optimised system:
One optimised system will help your vessel stay competitive for decades.
With Wärtsilä, you gain proven technology, lifecycle support, and the confidence that your ship meets today’s environmental rules and tomorrow’s challenges.
Explore Wärtsilä’s most trusted solutions for small and medium gas carriers. Each combines innovative technology with real-world performance to help you cut costs, reduce emissions, and stay future-ready.
To meet IMO and regional decarbonisation targets, Wärtsilä offers a fully integrated solution for small and medium gas carriers. It optimises efficiency and minimises emissions across all operating profiles.
Wärtsilä’s hybrid system HY improves overall efficiency and reliability while reducing installed mechanical power. This helps you achieve a lower EEDI and stay compliant with current and future CII targets. Flexible propulsion means longer lifetime and lower emissions even under variable conditions.
The main engine connects to a controllable pitch propeller CPP via a gearbox with PTO/PTI options. This set-up can adapt to energy efficiency rules and requires minimum power in harsh weather. Wärtsilä ProTouch™ makes control simple, while Gate Rudders and bow thrusters boost manoeuvrability and fuel economy.
Wärtsilä’s 4-stroke medium-speed engine offers unmatched fuel flexibility—it can consume boil-off gas (BOG) directly. Our portfolio includes engines that are ready for future fuels such as ammonia or methanol. Advanced mountings reduce vibration and underwater noise, and exhaust aftertreatment options help you meet emissions regulations.
Power is managed through an AC system with a DC Hub. A variable-speed shaft generator provides efficient power during sailing and can drive the bow thruster without affecting propulsion. Shore connection in port and auxiliary gensets ensure backup power when needed.
Our solutions can adapt to multiple fuels, from conventional liquids and LNG to future fuels such as ammonia or methanol. Compact 4-stroke engines save space compared to 2-stroke designs, which gives you flexibility for future fuel storage requirements.
The Energy Storage System ESS connects to the DC Hub to enable hybrid functionality for propulsion and cargo handling. It supports spinning reserve, reduces genset running hours, and can be sized to your vessel’s operating profile. Thanks to the DC Hub, adding solar panels or fuel cells later is simple.
LNG bunkering vessels are essential for supplying cleaner fuel to ships. They spend much of their time in harbour or during ship-to-ship transfers, where efficiency and low emissions are critical. Wärtsilä’s integrated package combines hybrid-electric propulsion with advanced cargo handling and boil-off gas management to make these operations safe, sustainable, and cost-effective.
Our approach reduces fuel use, cuts methane slip, and ensures compliance with strict port regulations. It also gives you flexibility for future fuels, so your investment remains competitive for decades.
Integrated systems
Complete power system including engines, catalyst systems, propulsion, fuel supply system and energy saving devices.
Hybrid-electric propulsion
Dual-fuel engines with Energy Storage and Management for zero-emission port windows and smoother power profiles.
Future fuels
Modular design supports ammonia, methanol, and easy integration of fuel cells or solar power.
Gas carriers operate under very different conditions, from harbour manoeuvring to long-distance sailing. Because Wärtsilä’s integrated solutions are designed to optimise efficiency and reliability across operational modes, your vessel will perform economically and safely.
Small gas carrier DF-DE
This setup uses multiple dual-fuel gensets to power propulsion and onboard systems. It offers flexibility for vessels that spend more time in port or short voyages. Wärtsilä’s hybrid option adds batteries and energy management to reduce fuel use, cut emissions, and provide zero-emission windows during harbour operations.
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Small gas carrier DF-DM
Here, a main engine drives the propeller directly, supported by auxiliary gensets for hotel loads and cargo pumps. Wärtsilä’s solution improves efficiency with PTO/PTI options and hybrid integration, so you can recover energy and reduce running hours. This means lower operating costs and compliance with tightening efficiency rules.
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Medium gas carrier
Medium carriers often sail longer routes and face variable cargo loads. Wärtsilä combines dual-fuel engines with hybrid-electric technology to keep power stable and emissions low. Energy storage supports peak shaving and spinning reserve, while modular design makes future fuel upgrades simple.
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Wärtsilä’s innovative technology can ensure that gas carriers are efficient and future-ready. An excellent example is the Spanish operator Grupo Ibaizabal, a decarbonisation pioneer in the LNG bunkering vessel segment.
Wärtsilä 25DF engines with NextDF technology achieve dramatic reduction in methane slip, lowering the risk of FuelEU Maritime penalties.
Technology group Wärtsilä will supply three Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines for a new 18,600 m3 capacity LNG Bunkering vessel being built for Spanish operator Ibaizabal. The engines will feature Wärtsilä’s innovative NextDF technology, which dramatically reduces methane emissions when operating with LNG fuel. The ship is being built at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding yard in China, and the order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2024.
LNG is an important transition fuel as the marine industry strives to reduce its carbon footprint. However, the main component of LNG is methane and when burned as a fuel, a very small amount may not combust properly, leading to methane escaping into the atmosphere.
The Wärtsilä 25DF engine has already set an industry benchmark for low methane emissions, down to as low as 1.4 percent at certain load points. The NextDF feature further reduces methane emissions, achieving as low as 1.1 per cent in a wide load range. What’s more, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are lower than on the standard Wärtsilä 25DF engine which already has low emission levels below IMO Tier III.
“Our company strategy and commitment is for our vessels to be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. In line with current and anticipated regulations – both at an international and regional level – we carefully evaluated the fuel consumption and emission performance together with Wärtsilä, concluding that the Wärtsilä 25DF engine with the NextDF feature would best support us with achieving our sustainability goals,” says Jose Maria Torre, Fleet Director of Ibaizabal Group.
Torre continues: “Wärtsilä’s state-of-art technology not only represents a major step forward in achieving our own decarbonisation strategy for our fleet, but for the charterer of the vessel. The decision by them to charter this vessel was down to it having the best performance and lowest emissions for that type of vessel.”
The Wärtsilä 25DF engine is the most efficient and most environmentally friendly marine engine in its power range. With its modular, upgradeable, and flexible design, the engine platform helps operators to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions, whilst improving the efficiency of vessels. The NextDF feature will enable operators to go even further in reaching their decarbonisation targets. In addition to lower emissions levels, the NextDF feature improves engine efficiency by up to 0.5 percentage points.
In addition to the engines, the scope of supply also includes two Wärtsilä Steerable Thrusters (WST) which will deliver superior hydrodynamic performance for maximum propulsion efficiency and dynamic positioning capability.
“The incorporation of our NextDF feature into the Wärtsilä 25DF engine provides enhanced fuel economy together with a significant cut in emissions. We share Ibaizabal’s commitment to decarbonising shipping operations and applaud them for being the first operator to take advantage of this new groundbreaking technology for the Wärtsilä 25DF engine,” comments Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine.
The equipment is scheduled for fast-track delivery to the yard, commencing in September 2025. The ship is expected to be delivered before the end of 2026.
Media contact for more information on this release:
Isabella Alder
Positioning and Strategic Communications Manager Wärtsilä Marine
Tel: +44 (0) 7792 681 757
marine.media@wartsila.com
Image caption: Wärtsilä will supply three Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines (pictured) for a new 18,600 m3 capacity LNG Bunkering vessel (picured) being built for Spanish operator Ibaizabal © Ibaizabal
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Wärtsilä Marine in brief
Wärtsilä Marine is a global pioneer in power, propulsion and lifecycle solutions for the marine market. We develop industry-leading technologies, advancing maritime's transition to new fuels. We support building an end-to-end digital ecosystem where all vessels and ports are connected. Ultimately, Wärtsilä Marine is driving the shipping industry forward on its journey towards a decarbonised and sustainable future through our broad portfolio of engines, propulsion systems, hybrid technology, exhaust treatment, shaft line solutions and digital technologies, as well as integrated powertrain systems. Our offering, which is underpinned by our performance-based agreements, upgrades, lifecycle solutions, decarbonisation services, as well as an unrivalled global network of maritime expertise, delivers the efficiency, reliability, safety, and environmental performance needed to support a safe and sustainable future for our customers, our communities and our planet.
www.wartsila.com/marine
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 18,300 professionals in more than 230 locations in 77 countries is shaping the decarbonisation of our industries across the globe. In 2024, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.4 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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